Piilani Highway officially reopens on Maui

County officials in Maui announced Oct. 4, 2008 that the Pi'ilani Highway beyond Kipahulu has reopened allowing residents and visitors to travel the direct route from Hana to Upcountry. After almost two years of uncertainty, delays, frustration and waiting, the county's barricade at Lelekea Bay on Pi'ilani Highway is gone. The isolated rural communities of Kaupo, Kipahulu and Hana are reconnected by road nearly two years after a pair of earthquakes jarred the islands on Oct. 15, 2006.

The Maui News reports, "The boulders are cleared. The unstable cliff faces are braced with steel netting. Road bases are repaired and reinforced with concrete. Maui County reopened more than 10 miles of East Maui road Saturday."

The road was closed in December 2006 due to damage from the earthquakes. Rock slides and undermined roads were the main reasons for the closure. The final project, rock stabilization and road repair at Kalepa and Alelele, has now been completed.

More Information: View Maui News article...

The Pi`ilani Highway is detailed in our Hana Highway - Mile by Mile Guidebook. Our guidebook includes over 70 of the Hana Highway's best waterfalls, trails, state parks, beaches, and more.

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Questions directed at our staff will be answered as quickly as possible.

Response by: Scott on 05/18/2009 at 08:30 AM

This road is really important for traffic and for tourist to travel and as it is closed due to earthquake so its damaging tourist industry and should be open for traveling as soon as possible.

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